My in-laws are missionaries overseas. Thus, my husband, John, grew up as a missionary kid, or better known today as a “third culture kid” (TCK). The most frequent question that John gets asked about his fam...

I was sitting on a yellow vintage couch in a beautiful home in Maui years ago when I first moved there. I remember studying God’s truth with a few ladies my age. For a month we were going to go through the bo...

Not long ago I was driving through the countryside when my GPS went on the blink.  Lost and disoriented, I happened upon a small country church where, upon approaching the front door to ask for directions, I n...

“The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.” Psalm 34:18 As you are sitting in your office completing this week’s lesson, one of your students sends you the followi...

Have you ever had a conversation with someone and 5 minutes later you can’t remember what in the world the conversation was about? If that has happened to you, and it has most definitely happened to me, then ...

I’d like to have all of you Youth Pastors out there take a deep breath. We made it! We’ve pushed through the scattered summer months and are getting settled into the start of the school year. More important...

October is Pastor Appreciation Month. This is a month dedicated to appreciating the people who have influenced us, taught us, and sacrificed for us. However, it seems like this honorable month goes unnoticed wi...

As a youth leader, I find that my own security can be little fragile. I care for my teens SO MUCH. I want the world for them, and I have poured myself out, over and over again, for their sake. My ministry is de...

I remember the most influential piece of wisdom I received in my first year of youth ministry. Over Starbucks, I met with my former pastor, Mark, who had introduced me to the Gospel of grace five years earlier....

October Is Pastor Appreciation Month! Chances are, your student ministry will be thinking about things to do for you as their Youth Pastor. You should also use this opportunity to show your Senior Pastor how ...